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The father of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by Taliban gunmen, pleaded to parents to allow their children “freedom of expression” as he accepted an award on behalf of his daighter.

Accepting the award for courageous activism in London last night, Ziauddin Yousafzai said: “In many countries, fathers and mothers are usually known by their sons. I feel proud to be one of the few fathers who is known for their daughter.

“I want to give a message to the world. I didn’t do anything special.

“As a father, I did one thing, I gave her the right of freedom of expression. All fathers and mothers, give your daughters and sons freedom of expression.

“Freedom of expression is a most important right. The solution of any conflict is to say the right thing, to speak the truth.”

He went on to quote a Pakistani saying: “A broken mouth is better than a sewn mouth”.

Malala was given an award for her courageous activism at the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.

In October 2012, she was shot as she was returning home from school in Pakistan’s Swat district.

She was flown to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital for specialist treatment.

The teenager had a titanium plate and cochlear implant fitted and was discharged from the hospital in February to continue her rehabilitation.

She has now recovered and earlier this week started school in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Index CEO Kirsty Hughes said: “Malala has shown extraordinary bravery but for a teenager to undertake and understand such intelligent and focused advocacy to advance education is particularly outstanding.”

The Index Awards recognise journalists, bloggers, digital activists, campaigners and artists around the world who fight against censorship.